Typographical machine



G. E. MARLATT.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 17. |921.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

n Pasadena,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.lv

GEORGE E.`MARLATT,OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

TYroGnArnrcaL MACHINE.

T0 all zzz/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. -MARLATL a citizen of the United States; residing at in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have` invented new and useful Improvements in Typographical Machines, of which the fication. 1

My invention relates to the matrix-distributing elements of typographical ma-k chines of the linotype class in which matrices are withdrawn from a storage magazine, assembled in line for casting a typeslug therefrom and subsequently returned to the magazine through the instrumentality ofthe distributer with which this invention is concerned. This present invention has for its principal objects to provide for a more rapid distribution of the matrices to the channels of the magazine and to provide improved meansfor quickly and automatically stopping and disconnecting the distributendriving elements following cen'- tain abnormal occurrences.

Certain matrices, such, for example, as spaces7 leaders and dashes, are often employed in such quantity wand with such frequency that a shortage thereof results pending their return to the magazine; also, many linotype machines are provided with several magazines each containing a different kind or size of matrices and designed for rapid substitution one for another to meet the-requirements of the work in hand. lIt is therefore desirable that the distributer be cleared as rapidly as possible of matrices belonging' in any one of such magazines so that another magazine may be substituted therefor. It will be apparent that any increase in the speed with which the matrices are carried to their individualy magazine channels will tend to lessenor eliminate the annoying delays explained above.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be read in connection with thisspecilication, Figure l is a rear elevation, with the center portion broken away, of the matrixdistributer system of a linotype machine, showing my invention in relation thereto; Fig. 2 is an end view of on a line 3-8 through the gear` system shown inFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of part of the clutch shown at the left of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a vertical section following is a speci! the gear systemk at the right of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is asection Specification of Letters Patent. Patljted Aug, V30, 1921 Application ined March 17, 1921.

Serial No. 452,964.

" on the line 6-6 of Fig. l Fig. 7 is a verti-v cal section on the line- 7-7 of Fig. l, and also shows certain parts numbered-4l to 48 not elsewhere shown. f-

'Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

rlhe common practice has been to employ a set of three distributer screws for carrying the matrices from the distributer box l to their individual channels. The speed at which' these screws maybe rotated has been limited by the fact that sulicient time must be allowed forl amatrix to drop entirely into the magazine entrance-channels 2 beforeV thev next following matrix carried by the screws reaches the point at which such matrix has dropped; otherwise a dropping matrix would interfere with a followingmatrix remaining in engagement with the screws. This present invention involves retaining distributer screws similar to those mon usefand doubling their speed for rapid distributionA of the matrices, and doubling the distance between the matrices when engaged bythe screws inorder to avoid the interference between a dropping and a traveling matrix which would otherwise ensue as a result of the increased speed.

Heretofore the cam 3 which controls theV lifting' of the matrices 5 into engagement with the carrier screws has been fixed on the upper rear screw 4, effecting the lifting of a matrix at each rotation of the screws. This invention provides for rotating the cam 3 at half the speed of the screws so as to lift a matrix at the-screws and to thus double the distance between the traveling matrices. Vith the speed of the screws doubled, the matrices will be cleared from the distributer box l at the usual speed and will then be carried at double the usual speed and with double the usual distance between them when in engagement with Vthe screws.

rlhe reduction of the speed of the'cam 3- loosely mounted. The intermediate gearsk are ymounted'on a shaft l0 carried by the in com-v eaoh alternate rotation of speed probracket 11 in which the screw 4t is hung from a shaft 12 in the usual manner. The screw 4 is capable of being swung outwardly and upwardly and the several gears and cam 3 are carried therewith without disturbing their inter-relation. The cam 3 may occupy its usual position on the screw 4ito coperate with the roller 13 on the matrix-lift lever 14, thus rendering my invention readily applicable to outstanding machines.

In addition to the advantages already set forth incident to an increased speed of the distributer screws, such increase also permits a freer and more direct drop of the matrices 5 from the distributer bar 16 into the magazine entrance channels 2. Here tofore the speed of the distributer screws has been such that the upper (front) lug 15 of the matrices would-strike the thread 17 of the lower screw when dropping into the channels. This difficulty is overcome to an extent by providing a guard strip over thc lower screw, but this guard is also objectionable for the reason that it likewise interferes with a direct drop of the matrices, throwing them backward against the channel entrance plate 18 with sufficient force to interfere with their travel through the entrance channels and into the magazine 19. Vith the increased speed of the screws herein provided for, the upper matriXear will pass between the spirals of the thread on the lower screw, the advancing thread serving as a guide instead of an obstruction to the matrix and rendering the objectionable screw guard unnecessary.

The increased speed of the screws may be attained by increasing the size of the usual driving gear 20, or by changing the relative size of the driving pulley (not shown) and the driven pulley 21, or by a combination of both methods.

Causes other than those above stated occasionally interfere with the travel of the matrices through the entrance channels. For example, a bent matrix or an unclean channel in the magazine may cause the matrices to clog the entrance channels. In any such case the matrices accumulate in the channels until lthey interfere with the matrices bein@x carried along by the distributer screws. t has been the common practice to provide for automatically stopping the screws in such occurrences by permitting the partitions 22 to bend at their upper ends against the advance of the thread of the lower screw, the bending partitions in turn acting upon and through other devices to separate members of the clutch which drives the screws. Such an arrangement has proven objectionable for the reason that the repeated iieXing of the partitions tends to leave them permanently bent, with the result that the matrices drop on their upper edgesl instead of between them as intended. -With such an arrangement, the clutch must be of suicient strength to bend the partitions and therefore considerably stronger than is nec essary to drive the screws under normal conditions.

In this invention I provide for automatically stopping the distributer screw without bending theJ partitions7 and for reducing the strength of the clutch to the minimum necessary to rotate the screws under normal conditions. lVith these objects in view I provide the usual clutch pulley 21 with a cam formed on its hub. Shoulders 23 on the cam engage rollers 24 carried by the clutch arms 25. These clutch arms are mounted on and turn with the shaftl 26 which carries the drive gear 20. This gear 2O meshes with the gears 27 and 27 on the ends of the front upper and lower distributer screws. The arrangement of the drive gear 20 and the several gears on the distributer screws does not differ from the usual arrangement of these parts, except that the gear on the shaft 26 may be enlarged as hereinbefore stated. The pulley 21 vis loosely mounted on the shaft 26 to turn therewith under normal conditions and thereon under abnormal conditions. The shaft 26 has a flattened portion 28 carrying a pin 29 which serves as a pivot for the clutch arms 25. clutch arms have bifurcations 30 which co-Y operate with the pivot pin arms in engagement with the shaft. Springs 31 secured to pins 32 in the outer ends of the clutch arms serve to keep the rollers 24; in engagement with the shoulders 23 on the cam. In the event of undue resistance to the rotation of the distributer screws because of any of the conditions hereinbefore described, such resistance will hinder the rotation of the shaft 26 but will not prevent the pulley 21 The shoulders 23 on the cam will therefore force the rollers 24 outward, tilting the clutchV arms and carrying the springs 31 across the center 29 on which the arms are pivoted7 thus disengaging the rotating pulley 21 from the shaft 26 which is geared to the distributer screws. y

Shafts 33 on which the rollers 2li are mounted project from the clutch arms and, when the arms are tilted as described, the outer ends of these shafts rest upon a member `34; slidably mounted in theV bearing and are held in engagement therewith by the clutch springs with sufficient tension to prevent any creeping of the shaft V26 due to the friction of the continuously-rotating pulley.`

`With the parts in the position and relation just described, and the abnormal condition causing the separation of the clutch mem bers having been remedied, the clutch is restored by manually moving a rod 86 extend ing across the distributer within convenient The inner ends of 'they from continuing to rotate.`

29 to keep the reach of the attendant. This rod is bent downwardly at its outer end, passes through a recess 37 in the bearing 35 which supports the slidable member 34 and shaft 26, and engages the slidable member 34 as shown. Movement of the rod 36 to the right will cause the conical end of the slidable Vmember 34 to raise the outer ends of the shafts 33 and thus tilt the clutch arms and restore the parts to normal relation for rotating the distributer screws. A spring 38 serves to restore the operating rod 36 and the member 34. In the event that the rollers 24 strike upon instead of between the shoulders 23 at the instant the clutch is restored, the arms 25 are lifted by such contact away from their pivot pin 29 but'are immediately restored by action of the clutch springs when the rollers become properly seated between or against the shoulders 23 of the cam.

In addition to the engaging means between the clutch arms 25 and shaft 26 already described, arms 39 on the shaft 26 serve a similar purpose and spurs 40 on the shaft 26 also engage the clutch arms when in normal operative position.

TheV entrance channel 41 as a unit is ca- V pable of being moved away from the distributer screws for the purpose of removing the matrices from a clogged channel or for other purposes. It is supported for such movement on a pivot 42 in the frame 43 which supports the distributer. It is essential that the Opening of the entrance channel shall automatically stop the distributer screws; otherwise, if an attendant should inadvertently open the entrance while matrices were being carried by the distributer screws, the matrices in dropping would be scattered at large instead of entering their channels. To stop the rotation of the screws in such cases I provide apawl 44 which is normally held out of engagement with the teeth of the driving gear 2O by reason of its contact with an arm 45 extending from the entrance channel 41. When the entrance is opened its initial movement will permit the pawl 44, urged by a spring 48, to engage one of the teeth of the gear 2O and the clutch members will therefore be disconnected in thecmanner before described. When the entrance is entirely opened as shown inbreken lines in Fig. 7 a projection 46 on the entrance channel will contact with an arm 47 of the pawl lever and disengage the pawl from the gear, thus permitting the distributer screws to be rotated manually by means of a knob 49 on the shaft 26 or otherwise, for any purpose, prior to the restoration of the clutch by means of the rod 36 as before described.

vVhile distributer'screws of the usual number, diameter, pitch, and speed, have been used as a basis of explanation in the fore going description, it is to be understood that they have been used for such purpose only.

nation, the matrix-distributer screws, a. ma-

trix-lifting member for lifting the matrices into engagement with said screws, acam for controlling the action of said matri2--lifting member, and means for effecting such relative speed between lsaid distributerv screws and said cam as will cause a matrix to be engaged by said screws at alternate rotations of the screws.

2. Ina typographical machine, in combination,V matrices having upper and lower lugs on o aosite edees thereof uc-Der and C #D lower distributer screws for engaging said lugs and thus propelling said matrices to points of distribution, speed-control means for rotating said screws at, such speed as will cause the upper lugs ofl said matrices to clear and pass midway between successive spirals of the thread on the lower of said screws when said matrices drop at their points of distribution, reciprocating.matrix-lift means for lifting the matrices one at a time and at each reciprocation thereof intol engagement with said screws and speed control means for said matrix-lift means whereby a matrix will be liftedonly at each alternate rotation of said screws.

3. In a typographical machine, in combination, a distributer box, rotating distributer screws, matrices capable of being lifted one at a time from said distributer box to said screws, a reciprocating lift element for lifting one of said matrices into engagement with the distributer screws at each reciprocation of said lift element, and means independent of said matrices for causing said lift element to reciprocate -only at each alternate rotation of said' distributer screws.

4. In a typographical machine, in co'mbinati'on, the distributer box for receiving and clearing matrices, magazine `entrance channels, distributer screws for carrying matrices from said distributer box to said entrance channels, matrices capable of being placed in engagement with said screws, a reciproeating lift element for lifting said matrices from said distributer box and into engagement with said screws, and means independent of said matrices for causing said screws to rotate twice to each reciprocation of said lift element. n

5. In a typographical machine, in combination, matrix-distributing screws capable of being resisted to hinder their rotation, a driving shaft geared to said screws, a pulley mounted on said shaft and capable of revolving either therewith or thereon, clutch arms mounted on said driving shaft and normally engaging said pulley, 'cam means on said pulley for disengaging said clutch arms therefrom when the distributer screws are resisted, resilient means for holding said clutch arms in engagement with said pulley in the absence of resistance to said screws and out of engagement therewith in the event of such resistance, and manually operable means extending parallel with said distributer screws for rengaging said clutch arms with said pulley following their disengagement therefrom.

G. In a typographical machine, in combination, the matriX-distributer screws, the driving shaft for said screws, the gears connecting said shaft with said screws, a clutch having self-contained' and self-sufficent means for separating the driven element from the driving element thereof when resistance is offered to said screws or to said driving shaft, the distributer entrance channel capable of being moved toward and away from said screws, a pawl 44 capable of offering resistance to said driving shaft for causing the separation of the clutch elements in the absence of resistance to' the distributer screws when the distributer entrance channel is moved partly away from said screws, means 46 for disengaging said pawl from said driving shaft when and while the distributer entrance channel is moved and remains further away from said screws, and other means 45 forholding said pawl out of engagement with said driving shaft when and while the distributer entrance channel is restored to normal position toward said screws.

7. A. combination as specified in claim 6, embodying also clutch-restoring means of a character employing the cone 34 under control of the operating rod 36 and the restoring spring 38.

8. In a typographical machine, in combination, the distributer screws subject to resistance by an abnormal condition or occurrence, a clutch for driving said screws and having self-contained and self-sufficient means for disengaging the driven element from the driving element thereof when resistance to said screws is communicated lto said clutch, the cone 34 for restoring said clutch, the rod 36 for operating said cone, and the spring 38 forrestoring said rod and cone. y

9. In a typographical machine, in combination, the distributer box, matrices therein, distributer screws for .conveying matrices from the distributer box to points of distribution, the reciprocating lift element for lifting a matrix from the distributer box to the distributer screws at each reciprocation of said lift element and at each alternate rotation of said screws, a clutch Ifor driving said screws, and self-contained, selfsuicient and independent means `directly associated with and composing said clutch but capable of disconnecting the driving' element of the clutch from the screws in the event of undue resistance to the distributer screws. y

10. A combination as specified in claim 9, embodying also the. clutch restoring means recited in claim 7. i

11. In a typographical machine, a distribyuter and a clutch for driving said distributer, said clutch embodying driving and driven elements so constructed and interrelated that the features thereof which serve normally to render said clutch operative will under abnormal conditions also serve to render said clutch inoperative independent of any outside construction or influence other than the abnormal condition temporarily lrevailing, said clutch embodying no construction for rendering it inoperative which is not also required for rendering it operative.

12. A combination as specified in claim 11, embodying also the clutch restoring means recited in claim 7. i i

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 12th day ofMarch, 1921, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

' GEORGE E. MARLATT. lVitnesses:

F. G. SGHUSTER,

E. H. MORSE. 

